I'll Be There (Ethan Karpathy)

Chapter 11

"I'm going to just talk to the nurses for a minute okay?" I ask.

Still no answer.

"Is it okay Zoe?" I ask again.

She gives a slight nod.

I walk out of the room and look around for Alysha and the oncologist.

"Alysha!" I call out.

"Is that you Ethan?" I hear a voice from down the hallway.

"Yes. Zoe needs help!"

The sound of pounding footsteps grow louder as Alysha runs toward me.

"What's wrong? What happened?" she asked.

"It was that girl, Claudia, who came to 'visit' Zoe. She only came to tell Zoe how much she hated her. Now Zoe won't even say anything." I inform her.

"I shouldn't have trusted that girl in the first place." Alysha sighed.

"Hey, it's not your fault." I tell her.

"But I feel so bad about it. Nevermind. Quick, let's go see Zoe."

We hurry back Room 24. I open the door to see Zoe the same as I left her, sitting in the same position on her bed, staring with her lifeless eyes at the wall infront of her.

"Zoe! Are you alright?" Alysha asks.

The oncologist walks in and sees Zoe.

"What happened?" the nurse asks.

"The girl that came before upset her a lot." I reply.

"I'm afraid that we cannot start the chemotherapy on Zoe when she is in this state."

"Should I call her parents?" I ask.

"Yes. That would be great. Thanks Ethan." Alysha says.

I quickly pull out my phone and search "Kathreen" in my contacts.

I find it and tap on the phone number section.

Kathreen picks up on the first ring.

"Ethan, is there anything wrong?" she asks.

"Yes, someone came to visit Zoe today and upset her greatly. The nurse said that they cannot start her chemotherapy today."

"Who was the visitor?"

"Claudia"

"Don't tell me it was Claudia Evans?"

"It was."

"What did she want from Zoe?"

"She wanted to take something away from her."

"Why would she?"

"Because she believes Zoe took away her popularity the time she smashed Zoe's face into her locker, which got her suspended."

"But that has nothing to do with Zoe!"

"Not in Claudia's eyes." I tell her.

"Then she must be blind."

"Yes," I agree.

"I'm going to come to the hospital right now."

"Okay, see you soon."

"Bye, Ethan."

I walk back to Zoe's bedside.

"Ethan! You're back. That was quick." Alysha says.

"Yeah, Zoe's mum is coming."

"Okay, thank you for telling me. Would you like some alone time with Zoe?"

"Yes, that would be great. Thanks."

I wait until Alysha walks out the door.

"Zoe," I say.

No reply.

"Zoe, listen to me, you don't have to talk." I tell her.

She gives that slight nod.

"Zoe, please come back. I love you. I love you so much. Don't let a little thing take away that beautiful smile. Remember. Wherever you are, whenever it is, I'll be there for you. Remember. I'll be there. Forever. Always."

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Author's Note:

The Karpathian fandom is falling apart on ig.

Remember.

I love you.